04

NARRATOR

Althea was staring around, trying to figure out how to ask for help. She didn't have anyone who could help her. The pack was at the prayer ground, praying to the Moon Goddess regarding the eclipse. Althea looked up at the sky. The moon was still red. And it was nowhere near turning its true silver color. "I don't care if Alpha kills me later on. I can't let you harm my best friend. I will fight until I am breathing." Althea yelled angrily at her mother as she started stepping away.

Callista just followed Althea's lead, knowing well that Althea was more than capable of making decisions like a true werewolf warrior. "Whatever you wish! Don't think for a second that I would have any mercy on you just because you are my daughter. I will tear you apart." Althea's mother yelled back at Althea angrily as both of her parents cracked their knuckles dramatically.

Althea looked behind and found a bunch of rogues standing behind her. Althea gulped hard as she knew she was surrounded. "Callie, run!" Althea yelled loudly as she grabbed Callista's hand and pulled her towards that narrow passage that only Althea and Callista could cross. She pulled Callista away from the rogues.

Althea pulled Callista into the deeper part of the forest. There was no way she could call the wolves to help her. She hadn't awakened her wolf. And the lunar eclipse also left all the wolves powerless for a limited time. That was another reason why all the werewolves prayed to Moon Goddess during the lunar eclipse.

There was a reason why Althea pulled Callista deeper into the forest. "Why are we not going towards the palace or the praying grounds? We are going farther away from anyone who could help us." Callista finally asked Althea as she could no longer trust Althea after the way Althea's parents told Callista their intentions. She couldn't help but wonder if Althea was just playing dumb to fool her.

The questioning tone and the harsh words were enough for Althea to take the cue. Her best friend no longer trusted her. Gulping down the lump in her throat, Althea turned her face towards Callista. "The eclipse will last about ten more minutes. Until it's over, no one can come and help us since no one would notice us missing. Plus, those rogues would be waiting for us if we took that route. That's what they must be expecting from us." Althea replied to Callista in a calm tone.

Althea didn't stop at all. She kept walking deeper into the woods. As if she knew exactly where she was going. They stepped into the place that was packed with the wolf's bane plants. All species could be found in the parts of the woods. It was the only place in the werewolf kingdom where wolf's bane plants could grow. "That's it! We will hide here. Powerless or not! They are all werewolves. It doesn't matter if they are powerless. The wolf's bane pollens around the area will affect them." Althea explained her plan to Callista as she pulled Callista towards a tall tree.

"You will hide up there. So no one can find you. No matter what! I will never betray the Alpha. And I will certainly never let anyone hurt you. I can promise you that." Althea added further as she helped Callista up on the tree.

Callista hid between the bigger branches of the tree. While Althea hid behind the rocks a few inches away from the wolf's bane field. Although Althea was scared too. She couldn't do much but remain on the ground to be the bait of those rogues. She was staring at the sky, waiting for the moon to change its colors impatiently. She didn't have her wolf to inform the pack that the alpha's daughter's life was in danger and the pack was under attack.

Althea was not just standing and watching. She was thinking about a way to let the others know that rogues were roaming inside their pack lands. Althea lay down on the ground and pressed her ear against the dampened ground of the forest. It was a cool trick she learned from one of the tracker wolves. Although she didn't have super hearing, Althea knew she could still catch their footsteps before they would be anywhere near Althea.

The panic started rising inside her chest as she felt the ground vibrating with the footsteps approaching them. Althea knew that they were surrounded. Althea was standing in the open field. She saw a ray of silver light on the ground. Althea turned her head towards the sky. She sighed in relief as she saw the moon starting to turn silver again. Althea popped open the pocket knife she had in her pocket. She had an idea to save Callista. And it was nothing but a suicide plan.

Althea thought she had to do it. To save the daughter of the alpha and her best friend. Taking a deep breath, Althea placed the blade of the knife on her forearm. "Althea! Don't be ridiculous. The pack will only treat you as the daughter of the traitors. Join us. We are marching towards a luxurious life. There is nothing in carrying that loyalty. You will not find peace." Althea's mother screamed as she followed Althea's scent toward the open field.

Althea gritted her teeth as she heard her mother trying to persuade Althea as well. "I don't care. Even if I die today, or maybe the pack kills me later on, I will be at peace that I didn't betray my Alpha and I gave up my life for the sake of my friend's life. I will be happy." Althea yelled back at her mother. She looked up at the sky again and found the moon changing its color from Scarlett to silver. Just what she had been waiting for. As she heard rustling, Althea made a deep cut in her forearm. She whimpered in pain as the wound stung.